In a world where guardian angels are tasked with protecting and guiding humans, Keeho is an enthusiastic, charming guardian whose mission is to inspire his assigned human, Soul. Soul is a shy, introverted teenager who feels invisible and struggles w...
The school day ended with the usual hum of students filing out, but Soul's mind was elsewhere. He couldn't stop thinking about that glimpse of Keeho's wings—the way he'd brushed off the sight with a laugh and an excuse about cosplaying. But something about that moment didn't sit right. He had seen Keeho's nervousness, how he'd panicked and slammed the door the second Soul had entered the bathroom.
So, when they ended up walking home together that afternoon, Soul couldn't hold his curiosity back any longer.
"Keeho... about yesterday," Soul began, glancing sideways at him. "Were you... actually cosplaying?"
Keeho raised an eyebrow, looking at Soul with a mix of amusement and unease. "Why? You didn't believe me?"
"It just... didn't feel like cosplay," Soul admitted, his cheeks slightly flushed. He hesitated, then took a breath, looking Keeho squarely in the eye. "Are they real?"
Keeho stopped walking, turning to face Soul. His usual playful expression had vanished, replaced by a serious, almost somber look. "If I show you... it has to stay between us. I mean it, Soul."
Soul's pulse quickened, and he nodded, feeling both anticipation and a bit of nervous excitement. They ducked down a quiet alleyway, where the late afternoon sun cast long, golden shadows. With a final look around to make sure no one else was nearby, Keeho exhaled, tugging off his jacket. His fingers went to the hem of his shirt, and he pulled it over his head, leaving his back exposed to Soul.
Soul's eyes widened as he noticed faint, almost invisible marks along Keeho's shoulder blades—subtle reminders of something ethereal and otherworldly. Then, with a small flicker of concentration, he watched as Keeho's wings began to materialize. They unfurled, as if they'd been hidden just beneath the surface, and shimmered in the sunlight.
"Keeho..." Soul whispered, unable to tear his eyes away. The wings were breathtaking, delicate yet powerful, with a faint iridescent glow that made them look like they belonged in a dream.
Keeho turned, a hint of embarrassment in his eyes, as he looked at Soul's stunned face. "These... yeah, they're real," he said softly, his voice tinged with vulnerability. "Not exactly something I can just tell everyone, you know?"
Soul took a step closer, his hand reaching out instinctively. "Can... can I touch them?"
Keeho hesitated for a moment, then nodded. Soul's fingers brushed against the feathery edge of one wing, marveling at the softness and the warmth. "They're... they're beautiful," he murmured, his voice filled with awe.
Keeho chuckled, a bit of his usual playfulness returning. "Well, I guess I can pull off the 'angel' look."
Soul looked up, meeting Keeho's gaze, and felt a rush of emotions—curiosity, wonder, but also something deeper, a connection that went beyond mere friendship. "Why did you hide this?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper.
Keeho's smile softened, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Because, Soul... this isn't exactly a normal part of high school life. I'm here for a reason, and it's not easy being myself when I have to keep this hidden."
Soul nodded, understanding a little better now. "But you don't have to hide it from me anymore."
Keeho's gaze softened, a warmth filling his eyes as he looked at Soul. "Thank you. That... means a lot."
They stood there in silence for a moment, the alleyway filling with an unexpected sense of intimacy as the sun dipped lower in the sky. For the first time, Soul felt like he was seeing Keeho completely—as more than just his friend, or even as his guardian angel. He was seeing him as someone who had trusted him with a part of himself, a part that he couldn't show anyone else.
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